Celebrating Ontario’s 150th Anniversary with Better Community Spaces in Northumberland County

Ontario is celebrating its 150th anniversary as a province by improving and renovating community spaces in Northumberland County by delivering better facilities for families in the community.

MPP Lou Rinaldi announced today, the County of Northumberland is receiving $12,500 in financial support through the Ontario150 Community Capital Program to add a new ‘Heritage Trail’ to the Northumberland County Forest network. This looped accessible trail extends over one kilometer through the Forest, with interpretive signage along the route that details the history of the area. Fostering more active lifestyles, this initiative is about establishing infrastructure for unstructured and structured physical activities, which will have an impact on the lives of 10,000 people in the community.

The Ontario150 Community Capital Program will help not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and Indigenous communities renovate, repair and retrofit existing community and cultural infrastructure. This support will be used to increase accessibility, improve safety and maximize community use of public spaces.

In celebration of Ontario’s 150th anniversary, the province has also released a new recording of A Place to Stand (Ontario Song), the province's unofficial anthem. The 50-year-old song has been refreshed to instill a sense of pride and belonging for all.

Investing in local communities for Ontario's 150th anniversary is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

QUOTES

“Infrastructure is the backbone that supports community life. It gives us spaces to come together, to be active or to honour our heritage. Our government is helping Northumberland County strengthen community infrastructure that makes a difference in our everyday lives.”

— Lou Rinaldi, M.P.P. for Northumberland-Quinte West

“The Ontario150 Community Capital Program will positively impact people right across the province by improving public spaces like parks and youth centres. Our investments in these important projects will build a strong social, cultural and economic legacy for our communities for years to come.”

—Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

“The new, accessible Heritage Trail creates opportunities for more members of our community to enjoy recreation experiences in the County Forest. This inclusive route is a fitting way to celebrate Canada 150 in Northumberland County. We thank the provincial government for the funding that has made this new resource possible.”

— Mark Walas, Warden, County of Northumberland

QUICK FACTS

Ontario is investing $25 million in the Ontario150 Community Capital Program to support 203 capital projects. In total, these investments are expected to result in almost 1.4 million square feet of renovated community space and more than 36,000 hours of additional availability for physical activity and arts programming.

Ontario is recognizing the historical significance of 2017 with Ontario150, a year-long commemoration that will honour Ontario's past, showcase the present and inspire future generations.

The Ontario150 Community Capital Program is administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It is one of three Ontario150 grant programs that will promote community engagement, empower young people and contribute to economic growth.

The Ontario150 Community Capital Program is administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s largest granting foundations.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation uses research to guide decision-making and relies on community-based volunteers across Ontario to review applications and guide granting decisions.